If a single car is capable of defining British character and style to the rest of the planet, the Aston Martin DB5 might be it. It’s not that we don’t appreciate other British icons, but what Jaguar lacked, Lotus tried to claim and BMW attempted to hijack was the one thing the Aston has to this very day in spades. And that is, of course, Bond. James Bond. Most particularly that brand of bawdy, rugged yet refined Bond played by Sean Connery.

An evolution of the Aston Martin DB4, the DB5 throttled up to 282bhp or 145mph. Standard equipment on the 2+2 included twin fuel tanks, wire wheels, oil cooler, magnesium-alloy body built to superleggera patent technique. The cabin featured reclining seats, wool pile carpets, electric windows, full leather trim in and even a fire extinguisher. And no external rear view mirrors.

Auto art has updated their venerable Aston Martin DB5 mold, which has been out of circulation for some years now, with a few tasty accents. Many of you out there might be considering an upgrade, so I’ve included several comparative photographs. This new version by AUTO art in big 1:18 scale lacks the weapons of that most famous DB5, yet it has all the panache, some of the rough edge, and all of the smooth you’d expect of Dave Brown’s grand tourer.

First and foremost of those upgrades are the new wire wheels. Now, keeping in mind that this is AUTO art’s window boxed Millennium line, the detail is extraordinary; gone are the thick, excessively shiny spokes of the original model, replaced with beautiful svelte wheels with nipple detail on the rim. Following in fashion, AUTO art has transformed the front grill from a too heavy gauge egg crate to a lighter, less bling appearance.

And there are these kind of quality touches all over the Aston Martin DB5; the wipers no longer look like an afterthought, the Superleggera badging on the hood appear photo-etched and are certainly no longer decals. The DB5 logos on the front quarter panels aren’t dim. The glazing on the headlights has improved that now featured textured square pattern “glass”. The doors, which seem to have a hard time staying snapped shut on my older version snap shut with authority on the newest version perhaps because hinges have replaced the old doglegs.

Now, the model itself - well there was never really a big upgrade that needed to be done there - the stance, the paint and the chassis seemed refined at the time and look smashing now. But even a closer look in that area reveals they’ve changed the rudimentary geometry of the wheel wells to reflect the subtle undulation of the DB5. The new model inherits one tic against the older version; the arc of the roof is a little flat, which ironically gives the wheelbase an illusion of being a little long. But even that seems a bit better (see the side by side pictures). The interior features a boatload of upgrades from chrome accents, to updated wheel and gauges and a more realistic looking wood steering wheel. The engine compartment is also looking a lot healthier, with real wires and chrome where molded plastic was on the original.

So the old boy’s looking refined in new duds.
Loyal readers know that at this point in a review, if I’m impressed with a model, there will typically be an appeal to your sense of why you should want this model, how great it will look on the shelf and how important it is historically.

But not today, because if you’re a car guy, you know all this. Just look at it.

Simply put, AUTO art has put on this earth the best 1/18 model ever of Aston Martin DB5. And if that isn’t enough to get you out of that chair and looking for your Visa, well then there’s little I can do.
Perhaps James needs to have a word with you.

Simply put, AUTO art has put on this earth the best 1/18 model ever of Aston Martin DB5. And if that isn’t enough to get you out of that chair and looking for your Visa, well then there’s little I can do.